Date: February 1, 2025…read more I think this is my first review of 2025! Woowoo! That's what motherhood does to ya. I had this park bookmarked for a while now and decided to check it out today. We were actually around the area for lunch but didn't plan to go to a park and ended up driving back this way for it. Read the reviews and was excited to check it out and I'm so glad we did! As a recent mom of three, I felt so comfortable and safe solo watching my kids here. It's a nice playground in the middle of a fenced off grassy area with a restroom right by it. I loved that the restroom was right next to the playground to make a quick trip and not worry too much about my kiddos playing. They have a bunch of trees and also shaded top above so it was nice even though it was hitting 80F still! Surprisingly all the parents around were super attentive to their kids and made sure nobody was hurting another. I heard so many kids apologize for accidentally bumping into other kids and it just felt so nice to be in a kid area with kids who were well behaved, especially bc of my toddlers. Restrooms weren't too bad for a park. Not the cleanest but definitely not the worst I've been to. Overall I'm so happy we found this park and we will definitely be back more often!

Great kids playground with a fence around it! It has photos of Jesse Owens, a small track around it…read moreand a giant tennis shoe to climb. It has 2 swings and a cool climbing structures. Parking is on White Oak or the street behind it. We will definitely be back!

When you arrive parking is plentiful along the borders of the park or in the parking spaces. I love…read morecoming to this park for dog training and for spending time with my dog allowing her to sniff and run on an extended leash (either 30 to 45 feet leash). The great thing about this park is that there is a sidewalk to walk on to walk the perimeter of the lake, or there are many areas of large green fields that surround the park. I have seen other dogs off leash, and normally this gives me great hesitation, but in a large park like this, you can be far enough distance away from everyone else and their dogs to avoid them. Now that it's spring, everything is blossoming and blooming, but be careful, when I was here the grass had not yet been mown, and there are so many foxtails growing right now. So many got caught in my shoes and thankfully I checked my dog's body completely and her feet and none had stuck to her. When things are mown it's great but also beware of the ants. When I was on the side of the park that has the football field sized grass area, I was watching my dog sniff and play and suddenly I felt something biting me. I looked down and dozens of red ants were climbing me from the dirt. I must have mistakenly stood on an ant mound. Thirdly, just also keep aware of coyotes, I have seen a coyote several times at Lake Balboa and they do not seem fearful whatsoever and they are just walking around casually in the middle of the day. This park is a true gem because of how beautiful and serene it makes life feel. There are people fishing in the lake, walkers, runners, people relaxing on benches reading, friends playing cards, birthday parties or other events, people bicycling or skateboarding. I love this park.

It's one of those places that feels like a mini escape without having to leave LA. The lake is…read morebeautiful, especially in the mornings and around sunset, and the walking path around it is perfect for a chill stroll, jog, or bike ride. There's always a good mix of people here families, couples, dog walkers, and folks just trying to get some fresh air. The park is spacious, well-maintained, and surprisingly peaceful considering how central it is. Plenty of picnic tables, grassy areas to relax, and spots to just sit and people-watch. The ducks and birds add to the whole vibe. Parking is usually easy, which is a huge plus, and the restrooms are decent for a public park. On weekends it can get busy, but it never feels overwhelming because there's so much space. Whether you're looking for a quick walk, a picnic date, or a calm place to clear your head, Lake Balboa is a solid go-to. Definitely one of my favorite outdoor spots in the Valley.

What an amazing oasis in the middle of the SFV! I'm so glad this garden has reopened to the public…read more The grounds are beautiful and serene, and I really appreciate how they've integrated nature with sustainability by using reclaimed water to supply the garden's pond. We visited today and were lucky enough to catch a performance by the Taiko Project. Their performance honestly gave me chills! Love that they also talked about the history of taiko in Japan and US and they even had volunteers at the end of the show to try taiko drumming! There was also Kamishibai storytelling in the tea garden, which the kids really enjoyed. They also have Japanese Garden "I Spy" sheet for the kids to do and Clean Water Patrol activity book. This is def one of those low stress, high vibe activities that I highly recommend. Just a heads-up though, outside food and drinks aren't allowed inside, but water is ok. There are restrooms near the entrance as well as behind the tea garden. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. We had such a relaxing afternoon and are already looking forward to coming back for more events at this little oasis.

The Japanese Garden in the Sepulveda Basin is such a beautiful oasis in the Valley, especially in…read morean area that can get so hot. It feels peaceful, well cared for, and instantly calming the moment you walk in. There is a small $5 admission fee, which honestly feels completely worth it, especially because it clearly helps keep the grounds so clean, beautiful, and well maintained. I brought my parents here while they were visiting, and they absolutely loved it. If you're lucky enough to visit during the right season, you may even catch the cherry blossoms, which make the whole experience even more special. There is also plenty of parking on site, which makes visiting easy. One thing to keep in mind is that they are closed on Sundays. Also, if you have extra time, Sepulveda Basin Lake is nearby and worth checking out as well. A lovely, serene spot that feels like a hidden gem in the Valley.

Plenty of shade and fun playground equipment - will keep parents and kids busy for hours!read more

I went a couple of months ago, scenery at park is so beautiful and your up the hill overlooking the…read moreSan Fernando valley, went around evening and it's so so beautiful. The park is also very clean, modern playgrounds and fun for all ages, came with my 1 year old nephew and he enjoyed the tall slide so much, for sure would come back with my nephew when in the area.

This location was a nice place. There were multiple groups of people setting up for birthday…read moreparties and there was still plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the park. It's pretty much a long stretch of land going around the coledesack near the back of Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy . There were so many beautiful trees at this park, perfect for shade and enjoying the breeze. It also had a couple of basketball courts. The playground was gated which I thought was good for if littler kids are playing. It was a nice and peaceful place. There's street parking right along the front of the park from end to end so plenty of places to park easily. This was a nice park, I'd go here again

If you know me, you know I'm always on the look out for a good park that I can bring my dog to to…read morepractice her training and to play ball with her. This park looks nice and clean, well taken care of, and well shaded. I came by around 1130 and I saw a very nice large green area open, I wish I had my dog with me because this is perfect. I usually put her on the 30 or 45 feet lead and let her explore and throw the ball. Also I love that this park is closer to me than lake balboa so I can alternate environments for her. The park is surrounded by houses in a neighborhood and I found parking easily on the street. The kids playground is nice too, very clean and well kept as well!

Once a year this former reservoir site turned nature preserve opens its doors to the public for…read moretheir annual Earth Day Open House. It was a fun experience and a great opportunity to learn about the history of the site and about the trees, plants and animals that make this special place their home. There were a number of informative environmental/community-related booths. One of the booths even gave away free fruit trees. There was Native American Storytelling. My kids got to enjoy the live animal exhibits where they held snakes and other reptiles. The guided nature hike allowed you to walk a loop within the inside of the preserve. The grasses were green and the wildflowers were blooming. The Ecology Pond was brimming with tadpoles while blue dragonflies skimmed the surface. It's a shame that the public is restricted to visiting only one day a year but it's entirely understandable considering how people will reliably ruin good things. Overall, it was a fun and inexpensive way to spend quality time with the family. It will be an event that I will look forward to attending every year.

Such a beautiful park and easy trail! I love that it's shaded and that there's a creek that runs…read morethrough it. Restrooms are clean and there's plenty of parking.

Plenty to discover in this short and sweet trail. Our group tends to start away from the main…read moreentrance of the park. Instead, we would turn right onto Sesnon Blvd from Balboa Blvd, then head straight till the road ends. Oddly enough the two halves of Sesnon are separated by a ravine. From this starting point, there is a moderately steep decline heading down to the main trail. After this portion, the trail is a casual nature walk. The terrain consists of well-established stream crossings, clusters of old trees you can climb, eclectic art pieces made by local residents, makeshift swings made out of rope, and even manhole covers from India! Folks we meet along the way would say their hellos while riding their bikes and walking their dogs in the evenings. Every so often there would also be small frogs and worms squirming around. Once you get to the main entrance and parking lot, there are a few restrooms as well as resting/training areas for horses. As an out and back route, the incline back onto Sesnon gets the calf muscles working.

I haven't been to this lovely, peaceful, tranquil Woodley Park in years. Today after I left the…read morebakery, I had to meet up with a potential client of mine to discuss her wedding arrangements. This is a very big park that actually has free, big parking lot and also street parking is available with couple of restrooms. We found a shaded area that also had a picnic tables. They have children's playgrounds, lots of beautiful, healthy looking trees and a full grass. Nice and green. They also have wildlife and the geese and ducks were swimming in the pond. Woodley park is adjacent to Lake Balboa park, but yet divided. Has pathways, trails, people walking their dogs, kids, has a place to exercise, and also there were venders selling some snacks. The weather was perfect around noon. Wasn't too hot nor it was cold. The Japanese Garden is really something to look into. It is breathtaking and beautiful. They have a golf course, and there was a birthday party going on along with a festival on the other side. I still wonder why people don't write reviews on parks? The park itself was clean and very well maintained. Didn't see no trash anywhere except where they belong. Inside the trash cans that were around the park.

Best Park in the valley. Many activities and so whimsical when everything is in bloom…read more Unfortunately, it still needs to be revived from the fire and the homeless the house there are becoming unsafe to be around.

You think of the park and a nice sunny day. Well, LA has been gifted with a lot of rain lately…read morewhich is nice and a rare sight to see. Let me say that it didn't stop people from enjoying the park anyways. Pulling into the entrance, which I was surprise to see lots of cars and that's during work and school hours. You still have loads of people out and about enjoying the day. Also it was nice to actually find parking in the lot by the playground. Even with the sky dark and the sun would peep out here and there, the park was still pretty lively. You still have loads of people out and about walking, exercise and enjoying nature. People still fishing which they didn't let the weather stop them. Every now and then the rain did start but didn't linger. It's so nice to see that the grass if in full force of green. As spring is fastly approaching, the new sprouts of wisterias blossoms are starting to come out and slowly cover the canopy of benches. Whatever is left of the cherry blossoms trees are blossoming as well. Even with the grey dark could and sky, it didn't keep people inside. The bicycles vendors were even open but the swans didn't seem open. It was a nice change of scenery with the park in the rain. It still a pretty sight when the sun isn't out.

I've been to this park a couple time and one thing that is always hard to do is find parking! It's…read morea pretty big park with a nice lake for fishing, they also have swan boats you can't rent as well. There's also lots of food and snack vendors as well. There's never a weekend we come and it isn't packed with people. There's lots of trees for shade but it can be hard to get a good spot near the water. It's also located right next to the golf course, so just a lot of people coming in and out everyday. The bathrooms can also be a bit questionable. I'd recommend checking it out in a weekday, it may be less packed. It's a pretty safe park to walk as well if you stay in the designated walking path near the water.

This park is super cute. The play ground is all red, and shaped like a fire truck…read more It is rather small and although the sign says it is for ages 2 - 12, I think it's more suited for ages 2 - 7, since the equipment is rather low to the ground. There are 2 picnic tables and 2 swings. The grass is on a mound riddled with gophers, so it's not a good spot for a picnic blanket setup. There is no parking lot. All street parking.

I love this park! It's perfectly shaded and the fire truck plays tructure is so much fun. I would…read moresay this park is suited for kinds on the younger side, but can definitely be enjoyed by all. My son loves the slides and the steering wheels. Watch out for the hand crank/spinning thing. I've seen many kids get whacked in the face when playing there. At any park I've been to with those they have been a total hazard. They have some benches along the outside of the play area for people to sit. Only two swings! I wish there were more and they ones they do have are directly in the sun. The other half of the park is kind of empty, with just a few picnic benches and a flat concrete area. It would be awesome if they had even more picnic benches or even added more play structures. The park itself is pretty small. It is never super crowded when I go because it's kind of tucked away, but if there are more than a dozen kids it feels a little chaotic. Always clean though! Plenty of street parking is available.